Tracy Herman

They are as different in their use of mediums and processes as any two artists can be. For one, it’s oils, brushes and palette knives that allow her to create magical figurative images and abstracts inspired by the contemplative women and landscapes of her travels; the other fashions stainless steel pieces finished with copper and bronze patinas in a sculptural exploration of consciousness and perception.

Both artists, Erica Hopper and Jeffrey Jon Gluck are deft craftsmen at the forefront of their careers and part of the permanent collection at A Gallery Fine Art in Palm Desert’s gallery district on El Paseo.

“They’re both so unique in their styles,” points out A Gallery Director Lisa Dempton. “There’s a quality to Erica’s brush strokes that is unparalleled and Jeffrey’s sculptures encapsulate a rich minimalism.”

A New York native who later studied at the University of Arizona, Glucks transitioned into what he refers to as an “archetypal symbology of primary geometric forms” was borne of his earlier work with welded steel influenced by his new surroundings – the Sonoran Desert.

Today it is the workings of the mind, the nature of reality, and the quality of lightness and expansiveness that motivates the artist. “Now I am working with the light-reflecting qualities of stainless steel and the subtle intricacies of copper and bronze patination,” he says. “These works bring about an integration of light, space,
and a mood of dynamic quiescence.”

Perhaps no one work captures this vibrant stillness better than Gluck’s Enso Series #23, now on display at A Gallery Fine Art. This vertically rectangular copper sculpture interspersed with delicate coloring captures the qualities of Gluck’s aspirations and emits a strong meditative influence.

Whereas Gluck revels in the nuances of subtle hues, Hopper’s color use is strong, yet positioned to create a quiet contemplation and colorful vivaciousness. 

“I use a blend of about four to seven colors in a multilayering palette,” says the artist. “I like experimenting with color and achieving new blends and combinations.”

While Hopper creates figurative images with color washes and markings that are clearly defined, the edges have openness for imaginative completion.

Her humble beginnings were wrought in basics: “My third-grade teacher, Mrs. Crowe, taught me to use chalk and crayon…I always wanted to do more.” She later moved to watercolors and, now, oils. “Oil allows me to take my time, Hopper says. “It allows me time to play.”

One of El Paseo’s finest art destinations for two decades now, A Gallery Fine Art hosts a number of works by both Hopper and Gluck, as well as a sterling collection of paintings, sculptures, glass, functional art furniture, and jewelry by both emerging and established artists. They invite you to come in and view their collection.

A Gallery Fine Art
73-956 El Paseo
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 346-8885